OBJECTIVE: Describe the incidence of catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI), following removal of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) in preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of infants <29 weeks gestational age with a PICC revealed 101 PICCs placed (2159 PICC days). Patients were hospitalized in a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between January 2002 and December 2003. Chi(2) analysis was performed. RESULTS: One infection was detected after the removal of a PICC (1 per 202 days). Ten infants had a CRBSI attributed to a PICC (1 per 216 PICC days). CRBSI during indwelling PICC was associated with increased risk for sepsis evaluation after PICC removal (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CRBSI in the 48 h following PICC removal was not different than the incidence of CRBSI while a PICC was in-dwelling. There was no evidence from this study to support antibacterial prophylaxis before PICC removal.